Students at Eastcape Midlands College fear that a strike by staff members and the subsequent dismissal of 60 Nehawu members will scupper their academic year.
Students at Eastcape Midlands College fear that a strike by staff members and the subsequent dismissal of 60 Nehawu members will scupper their academic year.
More than 60 workers belonging to the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union have been fired by the College, after a two-week-long strike forced the institution to close during its crucial registration period.
Registration was due to begin on 5 January and end two weeks later. Only 40% of the students have managed to register.
SRC members cite last year's lower pass-rate in expressing concern about the disruption on College campuses this year. At the Grahamstown campus, 2014 was marked by frequent disruptions, as students protested about fees, results and exclusions.
According to the SRC, the pass rate dropped from the previous year by 10%.
In a statement to Grocott's Mail the College's spokesperson Lize Hayward said the employees were dismissed after the strikers ignored three ultimatums to return to work, breached a court interdict issued to protect staff, students and property and failed to attend a disciplinary hearing.
The institution, which has campuses in Grahamstown, Uitenhage and Graaff-Reinet, was brought to its knees by the strike that began on 13 January.
Hayward said the industrial action was marked by the intimidation of staff, students, potential students and parents.
"The severity of the actions taken by Nehawu escalated to the degree that college management was left with no option but to close the college for an indefinite period," Hayward said.
On Friday 30 January, Nehawu marched to the Cuyler Campus Head Office in Uitenhage to hand over a memorandum of grievances. According to Hayward, the memorandum was received and signed by an official from the Department of Higher Education and Training's regional office.
The College disputed the grievances and demands cited in the memorandum, Hayward said.
Hayward said Nehawu members had failed to attend a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday 27 January 2015 and were subsequently dismissed in absentia.
"The letters of dismissal are being delivered by courier services."
Hayward said a disciplinary hearing for all shop stewards will take place on Tuesday 3 February. Danie Kilian, the College's Vice-principal of Registration, said the management is confident they have taken all possible steps to restore normality.
“As we are committed to quality teaching, learning and assessment in a safe environment, management has put various plans in place to ensure positive progress,” Kilian said.
The Student Representative Council at EMC has raised concern about the protracted strike.
In an emailed statement to Grocott's Mail dated 28 January, Education and Transformation officer Zikisa Mbanga said the strike will have a negative impact on examinations.
"We feel that this strike is setting our fellow students for failure. In 2013 the college achieved 73% pass rate and in 2014 it dropped to 66% and it was because of the unrest.
"We fear that this will immensely drop," Mbanga said.
Mbanga said the SRC strongly feels that the College management and Nehawu should reach an agreement so classes can proceed.
"We as the Student Leadership are very perturbed by an outcry from the students on all four corners of the institution," Mbanga said. "Students are uncertain of their future at the College because the majority of the students are not yet registered.
"The future of the students for 2015 at EMC gets dimmer. When elephants fight, the grass suffers."
SRC Chairperson at the Grahamstown campus Akhona Buwa confirmed that registration had been cancelled there due to the strike.
"Registration started on 5 January and according to the schedule it was going to end in the third week of January," Buwa said.
Buwa said the institution's management had told him that registration had been stopped until further notice.
Buwa said only 40% of the student population had managed to register.
According to Buwa, the Grahamstown campus takes 1 200 students annually. The three Eastcape Midlands College campuses take a combined 10 000 students.
